We have Hope!

June 17, 2013 Monday Message:

My wife’s uncle, Al Hirsch, went to be with the Lord last week. Our family traveled to console his family in their loss.

Al was a solid Christian when I first met him, and that was about 45 years ago! He lived out his faith every day.

When I was much younger, I thought Al and his family were hopelessly square, not hip, un-cool, probably because of their outspoken Christianity. Nice people, but kinda square. But as my own walk with Jesus increased, I grew in awareness that Al and his family were the ones who really had it all together all along. We grew closer.
 

In his later years, Al filled his days as a “greeter” at Sam’s Club – but it was more than just that. Al had keys for the store, and servant Al would arrive early to turn on the heat and lights, making sure everything was ready for the rest of the staff. His wife Irene told me that Al made quite a difference in that store. Every customer who came through the door knew Al. And whenever an employee had a religious or moral question, or just needed to talk things over with a friend, Al was always available. He was trusted by all.

Al went to be with the Lord. In heaven there is no cancer; there is no pain, and no one suffers. As Al went from this reality into the next, Jesus greeted him with open arms, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Al has Jesus; we have hope.

Norton Lawellin

Father’s Day and the New Hope Tour are behind us, but Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday. This coming week, June 23, Dan Pilla teaches from Luke 11:1-13 about prayer. We gather at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. See you there!

NL